The Mars Patrol & Hivida at Orkney Bands

The Mars Patrol & Hivida

Published by Matthias August 3rd, 2006 in Gigs.

Edinburgh band The Mars Patrol are playing Fusion next Wednesday, backed by local favourites Hivida. They say: “By facing problems head on, guitarist Ross Nelson assures The Mars Patrols sonic dogma of no pussyfooting around, getting straight-to-the-point, and total raw energy will put them in good stead for the future: We work hard; we put 200% into everything we do.”

We say: What makes The Mars Patrol quite unique is that they actually had their big break over in the states. Usually we hear just the opposite, with up and coming acts visiting from the US to play small venues like King Tuts and get some radio play over here. The American bands always love the ’show up and play’ attitude over here and claim that it’s next to impossible to break out in the US because all the venues and radio stations are owned by a few big corporations and you have to pay for radio play.

A previously unknown Scottish outfit breaking out over there certainly doesn’t happen every day. The band submitted their material for a competition run by an independent radio station in Chicago. Not only did it get aired, but placed first out of over 500 acts! Riding high on a the very strong live act they have building for the last year, The Mars Patrol just released their debut album “Are We Ready?” on Monday.

Listen to tracks The Kiss Goodnight & I Still Want You:
The Mars Patrol on Myspace

Hivida are one of Orkney’s most unique acts, and also hold the venerated reputation for drawing a big crowd. They will have benefitted from well turned out performances at both Magfest & the last night of Festival Club, where they were honoured to have Sir Peter Maxwell Davies relieve them with a half hour speech in the middle of their set. They took it in their stride though, sending pretty ladies off to buy them drinks while they waited for him to finish.

Hivida’s Official Site:
hivida.com

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